Egyptian prosecutors have ordered the release of celebrated movie star Menna Shalaby on bail, hours after she was arrested allegedly for possessing drugs.
Shalaby, 40, was arrested at Cairo airport after customs officers found narcotics in her possession upon her return from the US.
Public prosecution ordered Shalaby’s release on a bail of EGP 50,000 pending further investigation.
In reaction, Egypt’s Actors’ Syndicate led by Dr. Ashraf Zaki issued a statement expressing its deep distress over the circulation of news about the Egyptian actress. The news spread before the investigations of the Public Prosecution, which is considered a breach of all the rights guaranteed by law to any person standing in front of the judiciary.
The Actors’ Syndicate in its statement asked the media outlets to respect the privacy of its members and await the results of the public prosecution investigations.
Several Egyptian media outlets carried images of the purported drugs, including 12 marijuana stashes.
During investigations, Shalaby denied any link to the drugs, Egyptian newspaper Al Masry Al Youm quoted the actress’ lawyer Shaaban Saeed as saying.
Born in 1982, Shalaby has performed in several films and TV serials, which have earned her wide popularity and some prizes.
Shalaby started her acting career in 2001 and has since starred in several cinema and TV productions. She was the first Egyptian Actress to be nominated for the Emmy Awards.
With over three million followers on Instagram, Shalaby enjoys large followership in the creativity and music industry in Egypt and across the Middle East.